Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38302998›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2024

Implementing internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (moodgym) for African students with symptoms of low mood during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative feasibilty study.

Joyce M Ncheka, J Anitha Menon, E Bethan Davies, Ravi Paul, Sidney O C Mwaba, John Mudenda, Heather Wharrad, Harsa Tak, Cris Glazebrook

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. [Advances in the application of digital cognitive behavioral therapy in adolescent mental health issue interventions].Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Joyce M NchekaSchool of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
J Anitha MenonSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
E Bethan DaviesInstitute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-operative, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Ravi PaulSchool of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Sidney O C MwabaSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
John MudendaLusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.
Heather WharradSchool of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Harsa TakClinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Cris GlazebrookInstitute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-operative, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. cris.glazebrook@nottingham.ac.uk.
University of Zambia · ZMInstitute of Mental Health · GBUniversity of Nottingham · GBLusaka Apex Medical University · ZMUniversity of Petroleum and Energy Studies · IN

Funding

UK Research and Innovation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/V034529/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOnline therapies have been shown to be effective in improving students' mental health. They are cost-effective and therefore have particular advantages in low-income countries like Zambia where mental health resources are limited. This study aimed to explore the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the feasibility of implementing an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) intervention ('moodgym') to improve resilience in vulnerable Zambian students.

methodsThe study was a qualitative interview study. Participants identifying as having symptoms of low mood and completing a baseline, online survey (n = 620) had the option to volunteer for a semi-structured interview to explore views about their experience of the pandemic and the acceptability and perceived benefits and limitations of using moodgym.

resultsA total of 50 students (n = 24 female, n = 26 male) participated in the study. One theme with 4 sub-themes, captured the severe emotional and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second, very strong theme, with 5 sub-themes, reflected the considerable negative effects of the pandemic on the students' educational experience. This included the challenges of online learning. The third theme, with three subthemes, captured the benefits and acceptability of moodgym, particularly in terms of understanding the relationship between thoughts and feelings and improving academic performance. The fourth theme described the technical difficulties experienced by students in attempting to use moodgym.

conclusionCOVID-19 caused fear and impacted wellbeing in vulnerable students and severely impaired the quality of students' educational experience. The findings suggest that moodgym might be a valuable support to students in a low-income country.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyCOVID-19FemaleHumansInternetMalePandemicsQualitative ResearchStudentsCognitive behavioral therapyCOVID-19Low income countriesQualitative researchStudents

Identifiers

PMID38302998
PMCPMC10835970
OpenAlexW4391450245

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.